If you only listen to people who agree with you where’s the growth?

Sometimes we need to hear another point of view. This is one of the benefits of having people in your life who you trust and who are trustworthy. They can help you see a situation in a new light, offer advice, and help you grow. That is… if we let them.

A few days ago, I could have easily not let my sweetheart speak candidly with me. I shared with him something that happened at work, and he wasn’t taking “my side.” What?! I could have easily become defensive and not let him share his thoughts. And I contemplated doing just that.

When his response to the question, “Do you think I was in the wrong?” was “yes,” I paused and contemplated… We normally agree on these types of things. We normally see eye-to-eye on situations like this. Huh. This posed a decision for me: become defensive and not let him give me his opinion or set my feelings aside for a moment and actually listen to what he had to say. I chose to do the latter. Instead of taking offense, I asked “why?” Why did he think I was wrong; what was his viewpoint on the situation? And I truly wanted to know. I wanted the opportunity to grow.

Trustworthy people can help you see a situation in a new light, offer advice, and help you grow.

I’d like to pause real quick and point out something very important: when faced with the decision to become defensive or hear him out, instinct told me to get defensive. Instinct told me he is against me and I shouldn’t let him any further into the situation. My emotions told me to become annoyed and irritated. But I choose to set those instinctual feelings aside for a moment. And it was a good choice—but a choice none the less.

As it turns out, after hearing his thoughts, I agreed with him. His viewpoint and advice were valuable, and I trust it because I know he is trustworthy and has my best interest in mind.

It’s great when people agree with you. But it helps you grow as a person when they don’t and you’re willing to hear new ideas and different perspectives. Of course not everyone’s viewpoint will be beneficial for every situation in your life, but I challenge you to listen to the opinions of those who know you, love you, are trustworthy, and who you trust. They might just have some valuable information that will help you grow as a person and in your relationships —if you make a choice to listen.